Proven Thoroughbreds’ busiest NZB Karaka Sale to date came to a conclusion last week and we can now confirm prices on all seven acquisitions.
After NZ breds whitewashed the colonials at the 2023 Championships, claiming seven of the eight Group 1s (the other was won by the UK’s DUBAI HONOUR), we resolved to elevate both our numbers and quality of Kiwi stock.
So for the first time, Steve O’Dea joined Karaka regulars Joe Pride and Jamie Walter, to try and identify another STOCKMAN, ADORABEEL, TAMARACK or OCEAN TREATY, all Proven performers bred across the ditch.
This year was an opportunity for Proven to capitalize on a revitalized NZ industry that continues to punch way above its weight, producing for example, 28% of Australia’s Group 1 winners last season from a pool of horses representing just 8% of our racing population!
The mighty breed shapers ZABEEL & HIGH CHAPARRAL figured close up in six of the seven pedigrees purchased, with a quartet of those confirmed for the Pride stable. ZABEEL of course is the maternal grand sire of THINK ABOUT IT who also happens to be by the HIGH CHAPARRAL stallion SO YOU THINK.
Like Joe Pride, the slower maturing Kiwi reared horses, are also ideally suited to the patient style of O’Dea-Hoysted and Kerry Parker both of whom will prepare at least one Karaka graduate. There are 4 colts and 3 fillies in this year’s selection, covering a broad spectrum of prices. Details below:
OCEAN PARK x FOREVER AND EVER colt (Kerry Parker)
2.5% = $2,875 inc GST
3.5% = $4,025 inc GST
5% = $5,750 inc GST
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Stoutly bred colt from a dam that has produced 4 winners from 4 foals to race including Group performer OUR INTRIGUE and 3 other city winners.
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FOREVER AND EVER is also a half-sister to this season’s Group 3 Premier Cup winner HOSIER.
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A champion in both Australia and NZ, OCEAN PARK won 5 Group 1 races including the stallion making Cox Plate, while his record at stud has been equally impressive with 62.1% winners to runners and 40+ stakes performers including TOFANE, KOLDING, KOVALICA & OCEAN BILLY, etc.
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Bred and raised on the same farm as Proven’s stakes performing OCEAN PARK mare OCEAN TREATY.
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MONSUN is the broodmare sire of 200+ stakes performers worldwide.
VADAMOS x HIGH TRANQUILITY filly (Joe Pride)
2.5% = $6,500 inc GST
3.5% = $9,100 inc GST
5% = $13,000 inc GST
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Brute of a filly by French Group 1 winner VADAMOS out of a HIGH CHAPARAL mare that was sharp enough to win over 1400m.
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This is one of the best-credentialled VADAMOS yearlings ever sold at auction (only 7 others have sold for more than $220,000).
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VADAMOS produced 6 individual stakes performers including Group 1 winner LA CRIQUE from his first crop & has since added another 7 black type runners to his burgeoning CV.
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Trainer Joe Pride is familiar with the breed, having purchased the full-sister BE QUIET and also prepares PRINCIPESSA – a multiple city winning daughter of VADAMOS.
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The dam’s three-quarter brother LET’SDEAL (by HIGH CHAPARRAL’s son DUNDEEL) is stakes placed behind Group 1 winner TRIX OF THE TRADE.
ACE HIGH x LUNADA colt (Joe Pride)
2.5% = $6,500 inc GST
3.5% = $9,100 inc GST
5% = $13,000 inc GST
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Stylish colt by a dual Group 1 winning son of the breed shaping HIGH CHAPARRAL – ACE HIGH – who has already produced a Group 1 winner (MOLLY BLOOM) from his first crop.
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Despite having 7 runs as a 2YO, ACE HIGH trained on to win the Spring Champion Stakes, VRC Derby & Hill Stakes as well as place in the ATC Derby before retiring as the last son of HIGH CHAPARRAL to stand at stud.
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The dam LUNADA is a full-sister to champion galloper EL SEGUNDO, winner of the Cox Plate, Caulfield Stakes, Underwood Stakes, CF Orr Stakes & Memsie Stakes!
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Only two foals to race from LUNADA are BOTTMINGEN (4 time winner from only 8 starts) & SAKURA SEASON (impressive maiden winner this season).
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PINS is the broodmare sire of 110+ stakes winners including Group 1 stars I WISH I WIN & PROBABEEL.
TRAPEZE ARTIST x LE CIEL colt (Steve O’Dea & Matt Hoysted)
2.5% = $3,900 inc GST
3.5% = $5,460 inc GST
5% = $7,800 inc GST
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Strong colt built very much in the mould of his sire TRAPEZE ARTIST – four-time Group 1 winner by the all-conquering SNITZEL.
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From a daughter of champion mare SACRED CHOICE – winner of the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap & Empire Rose Stakes, among 9 career wins from 1300m to 2100m!
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TRAPEZE ARTIST is the leading 2nd season sire by winners & prizemoney, ahead of JUSTIFY, HARRY ANGEL, THE AUTUMN SUN & WRITTEN BY, while he has also produced a Group 1 winner from his first crop via GRIFF (Caulfield Guineas).
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Proven has raced two of TRAPEZE ARTIST’s progeny to date and both won in their first preparations – SPIN DOCTOR & CARTWHEELS.
SAVABEEL x MARY D’OR colt (Joe Pride)
2.5% = $9,850 inc GST
3.5% = $13,790 inc GST
5% = $19,700 inc GST
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Blue chip colt by a top stallion from an elite broodmare (6 winners from 6 foals to race including 2 international stakes performers FROSTED GOLD & SUNSHINE MIGHTY, & ATC Provincial Championships Final winner MARYORE).
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With a current service fee of $100,000 and 32 Group 1 winners to his name, SAVABEEL remains one of the greatest sires Australasia has seen this century.
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SAVABEEL’s incredible versatility has produced everything from durable sprinters like I WISH I WIN, precocious 2YOs like COOL AZA BEEL & PASADENA GIRL, middle distance champions like LUCIA VALENTINA & PROBABEEL, to Classic winners like SANGSTER, SCARLETT LADY, MO’UNGA & MAJOR BEEL.
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MARY D’OR, a stakes performer herself in France & Australia, is a full sister to Group 1 winner STORMY RIVER, a three-quarter sister to Group 1 winner SILVERWAVE & a half-sister Group 3 placegetter Line Drummer.
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Deep international pedigree with 23 winners in 7 different countries on the page.
HELLBENT x TANGO GOLD filly (Joe Pride)
2.5% = $2,875 inc GST
3.5% = $4,025 inc GST
5% = $5,750 inc GST
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Well conformed filly by a Group 1 winning son of Australia’s leading sire I AM INVINCIBLE, out of a half-sister to Group 1 winner PRINCESS JENNI (by HIGH CHAPARRAL).
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The stallion HELLBENT is in the middle of a career best season highlighted by the exploits of Group 1 winner MAGIC TIME.
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10 of HELLBENT’s 12 stakes winners to date are female including KRISTILLI whose second dam is also by ZABEEL.
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The dam TANGO GOLD is bred on the potent TAVISTOCK x ZABEEL cross (26% stakes performers to winners) – the same as Proven/Pride stayer & millionaire earner STOCKMAN.
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TAVISTOCK is already making waves as a broodmare sire with an elite 11.8% stakes performers to runners, including superstar galloper MR BRIGHTSIDE & international stakes winner STRAIGHT ARRON.
OCEAN PARK x DEE DAY filly (Kerry Parker)
5% = $3,900 inc GST
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Outstanding value filly – only the second foal from a half-sister to stakes winner SACRED DAY.
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Half brother by ALMANZOR was purchased by Proven for $NZ80k at last year’s Karaka Sale and this filly is a superior physical type available at half the price.
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Like KOLDING and OCEANEX, this filly has the OCEAN PARK x DANZIG broodmare sireline cross.
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A champion in both Australia and NZ, OCEAN PARK won 5 Group 1 races including the stallion making Cox Plate, while his record at stud has been equally impressive with 62.1% winners to runners and 40+ stakes performers including TOFANE, KOLDING, KOVALICA & OCEAN BILLY, etc.